Patrick grew up as a curious kid in New Orleans’s Ninth Ward. His parents had a few strict but fair rules for him, his brother and sister: home before dark, in bed by 10:30 on school nights and all chores and homework to be complete before play.
He loved biology and science but most of all was fascinated by people.
“I always wanted to know what motivated people to do what they did,” he said. “A lot of people don’t look at what is the motivation behind someone’s actions. And a lot of people carry trauma, and you shouldn’t be defined the rest of your life by one action.”
In February 2023, Patrick received his second chance after spending 35 years in prison. He is determined to use that second chance to help others, and after completing Parole Project’s reentry program, he is now the research coordinator for the Jesuit Social Research Institute at Loyola University in New Orleans.
“Pat is kind and empathetic and fantastic with students,” said Annie Phoenix, executive director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute. “He asks the best questions, and he is a joy to work with. He has brought so much to our organization, not just with his experience but with his caring for the world. He has a heart for people who are suffering.”
Patrick uses his incarceration experience to help others still there. He returns to prison at least once per month, and he even recently visited the only woman on death row in the state of Louisiana. He said the visit at Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women started out reverent but ended with the two of them planning the next visit.
“We had two hours to visit, and it felt heavy at first because she is so isolated. She is the only woman on death row and is by herself,” he said. “But we talked about life. Aspirations and I understood the isolation she has endured. At first it seemed like it would turn sad, but we laughed and talked, and I told her it’s going to be my mission to help you in any way I can.”
Patrick is a compassionate empath, a lover of the outdoors, and he often pauses on a walk to take pictures of sunrises and sunsets. He’s present, in awe of what surrounds him and deeply grateful that he gets to experience his life so fully. He enlisted in the Navy when he turned 18 and spent three years on active duty and another three years in the reserves. His dedication to the country brought him all over the world – Spain, Italy, France and Morocco and instilled in him a love of travel.
“He honestly is really fun to travel with,” Phoenix said. “He always appreciates the beauty around him. Whether that is walking around campus or going to visit a rural prison in Missouri. Pat is going to stop and take pictures and notice nature in a way that makes me appreciate the world now.”
He’s inquisitive and deeply interested, two traits important for the work he did as a paralegal and as a journalist in prison and perfect for the job he currently holds. He talks a lot about the impact of solitary confinement and why language and words matter when discussing incarceration.
Patrick is also part of Parole Project’s Impacted Leaders Initiative, which provides leadership opportunities for formerly incarcerated people and empowers participants through skill development, relationship building, mentorship, and field experience.
“I think being part of the leadership initiative has helped me understand the hidden strengths I have better in helping others,” he said. “There’s a lot of work to do in the area of mass incarceration, race and poverty. We need to use language that is human and stop using dehumanizing language when we talk about people.”
At the end of May 2025, Patrick will turn 61 years old. He knows that his success can help someone else succeed too, because rising tides do indeed raise all boats.
“Success is giving back and helping others move forward,” he said. “Any time I get the chance to go back to prisons and see the guys I have done time with and have them see me, it resonates. They know I care and want to help them move forward too.”
